Although I am not a marina and neither was my brother I do know how you feel.  5 years ago my brother died from suicide.  I have been struggling to make sense of everything and live a normal life but that has been much harder than it may seem.  I just started to blog about my experience after his death.  The address is .  I wish you the best in your journey.  Stay strong.

Nicholas. You are not alone. My best friend and high school classmate, we joined the Marines together. We both ended up serving in Beirut, Lebanon. I served Oct. 1982-Feb. 1983. Had I opted to take the next float back, I would have been there at the same time with Lee. Instead, I accepted my PCS orders to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to finish out my contract.

Sgt. Lee Norton made Sgt. in just under 18 months. Tied the range record at Parris Island, graduated PFC. Went to ITS, came out number 1 in his class. Meritorious L/Cpl. Went to MOS training and again, graduated number 1 in his class, meritorious CPL and was given the choice do do what he wanted to do and chose to be a USMC Sniper. Again, number one in his class. As a USMC Sniper he served with 1/8 Marines and lived in the (infamous) BLT Barracks at the Beirut airport. One day while on sniper assigment, he zeroed in on his target and saw a flash, felt something warm accross his face – realizing it was blood – then he realized that his spotter, this time being his Capt. of all people, had taken the incoming round. A week later, again on sniper assignment, as he left his position which he missed the ride back to the BLT HQ/barracks, he spent the night at the American University. 0623 the next morning, October 23, 1983, he heard the explosion we all know now as the first terrorist attack against Americans killing 220 Marines, 18 Sailors, and three Soldiers. Sgt. Lee Norton realized that he had lost his entire unit.

When he came home, he wouldn’t talk about what happened in Beirut. Period. He internalized everything. He knew I was there to listen and said that he would talk when he was ready. I gave him the space what I thought he needed. We remained in constant contact as best friends do. He went on to college to pursue computer science and one night he called telling me he would be coming back to VA to his mothers and wanted to meet with me as he needed to talk in person. I gave up my plans and drove the 4 hours for the weekend retreat. That weekend he asked me to be his best man, as he was going back to college to propose to this girl he met at college he had fallen in love with. Duh, I drove 4 hours, gave up my plans when he already knew the answer. Of corse, it would be my honor to be his best man. It was a fun, relaxing weekend, I was glad I gave up my plans and made the trip down to see him. I was glad to finally see him happy again. We had our share of laughs and heart to heart talks. It would be the last time Lee and I saw each other. The following Friday night, I got the call I will never forget. It was from his Aunt, asking me if I was alone or were any friends/family with me. The last thing I remember her telling me that “Lee was no longer with us.” She went on to say that Lee was found hanging in his dorm room by his roommates after a failed marriage proposal. I made sure he was buried with full military honors. It was my duty.

Next week, Sept. 28 (1988), will mark the anniversary of his death. Each year I take the morning off and I go to Quantico National Cemetery and visit with him.

If you ever want to talk just drop me an email. and I’ll give you my cell number. I now work for the American Psychological Association (no, not a PhD.. but in their internet dept) and when asked, assist Beirut Veterans with their struggles with PTSD and depression and give them the resources they need to seek assistance.

Semper Fidelis

Bill Kibler
USMC Beirut Veteran

Two days before my 16th birthday, my mother called it quits. Yep, I got to find her body. I’d say it had a profound effect on me (understatement) – the next 10 years were a loss. This February will be 30 years and the scars are still there.
Lance Cpl, I am sorry for your loss! But please DO NOT let it stop you from your goals. That will only hurt you. Please realize there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent it, there was nothing you did to cause it. Remember the good, let the rest go. Time may not heal, but it does soften the pain. As for the scars… I don’t know what to tell you there, other than carry on. It does tend to make the other trials in your life seem easy by comparison.

Peace be with you, Nicholas, and with the families of the dear friends that you lost to suicide.
I pray that you will be able to talk to someone about your grief (maybe even a chaplain, and one who will NOT simply tell you that “God works in mysterious ways”) As a chaplain of Marines, I feel like “family” to all Marines and especially so to one who is suffering a terrible loss such as yours. May you reach out and receive the help that is offered… and in turn you may be better able to help someone else who is a survivor, or someone who may be in that “dark” place themselves. May God be with you my Marine… S/F, yes… Always!

I feel your angst. I am in love with and live with a Marine who attempted suicide twice last year. Luckily for me he did not succeed. He goes to therapy once a week and has slowly made some progress. Not a day goes by that I dont wonder if one day he will succeed. And not a minute goes by when I wonder how dark the place was that he was in, and wish that there was something I could have done to prevent him from being in that terrible place. But there is nothing I could do. I can only be supportive for him now and not beet myself up for not doing more. RIP to the friends whom you have lost. Stay strong. Semper Fi.

I am so very sorry for your loss. They were in too much pain, that very few, if any on “the outside” of that pain can understand. It was not meant to hurt anyone, and quite possible they were unaware it would cause others’ pain if their lives ceased to exist…and quite possible they thought “everyone else will be better off without me”. Believe me when I say….no one wants to go there.

Know that they loved all of you…and if 20/20 is hindsight…the trigger would have never been pulled to end that life.

God’s grace & mercy be with you.

And above everything…THANK YOU for the personal sacrifice you make on behalf of freedom everywhere, for the United States of America, for my community, my friends, my family, and those that came before us & after us. YOU ARE THE USA. My love to you all…Jeanine Hudgins

Thanks for writing this. It really makes you think. Semper Fi.

This is a tragic occurence . I have son that is a former LCP , also in need of support . I pray for him everyday , to turn his life around .

May a year ago my soon to be sister-in-law’s step dad killed himself. He had basically raised her since she was four. This was the first time anyone I knew personally committed suicide and I didn’t know how to help her. I knew she was hurting so badly but I couldn’t even begin to understand. This last year has been really hard for her and for the most part I haven’t been able to help her. While the suffering may end for the person that commits suicide it only begins for the ones that love them.

I just wanna say that i Love Marines and i wanna be one after high school and this is one of the reasons why i wanna join the Corps because i figure if i go to war one less Marine will have to suffer the Horrors of it